Portulaca plant named &#39;kakegawa cy6&#39;

ABSTRACT

Portulaca ‘Kakegawa CY6’ is a new variety of  Portulaca oleracea.  This plant has a vigorous, spreading plant growth which produces unique dark red flower with a red ring surrounding a yellow flower eye at the base of the of the flower petals.

GENUS AND SPECIES

[0001]Portulaca oleracea

VARIETY DENOMINATION

[0002] ‘Kakegawa CY6’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

[0003] This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPortulaca plant, hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Kakegawa CY6’.Portulaca ‘Kakegawa CY6’ is a new variety of Portulaca oleracea. Theplant has a vigorous spreading growth habit and can be used as agroundcover. It can also be used in a potted or hanging basketpresentation. The invention's flowers are a unique dark red flower witha red ring surrounding a yellow flower eye at the base of the flowerpetals. The flowers are single and measure approximately 5.0 centimetersin diameter when fully open. The plant performs well in hot and dryclimates. The plant is very resistant to rain, heat and drought.

ORIGIN AND ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION

[0004] The new cultivar is propagated asexually from vegetativecuttings. The asexual reproduction establishes that the plant does infact maintain the characteristics described in successive generations.‘Kakegawa CY6’ has been reproduced by stem cuttings in Salinas, Calif.,and all of the characteristics thereof have been determined to be firmlyfixed.

[0005] ‘Kakegawa CY6’ originated as a sport from the variety ‘Summer JoyWine red’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,251). The inventor isolated the sportin October, 1999 in a greenhouse in Salinas, Calif. A single lateralstem was identified which exhibited a dark red flower with a red ringaround a yellow eye. The parent variety possesses a dark red flower witha red center. The original sport was isolated and rooted in soilessplant media. Twenty vegetative cuttings were then made from the originalplant after it grew to a suitable size. All twenty plants were identicalfor leaf shape, flower color and overall plant habit. Subsequent annualvegetative propagation of these plants over the next two years produceduniform plants with the same characteristics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0006] The accompanying drawings serve by color photographic means toillustrate the new plant variety, ‘Kakegawa CY6’. The colors arerepresented as true as possible using conventional photographicprocedures.

[0007]FIG. 1 is a close-up view of a ‘Kakegawa CY6’ flower illustratingits color and shape.

[0008]FIG. 2 is a view of several plants of the nw cultivar growing in a35.0 cm diameter pot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

[0009] The following description is based on observations andmeasurements from 14-16 week old plants grown in 15 cm pots at Salinas,Calif. Plants were propagated from vegetative cuttings and grown in aglass greenhouse. These plants were grown in plastic pots containing apeat moss-based medium. Soluble fertilizer containing 18% nitrogen, 8%phosphorus and 18% potassium were applied every fourth irrigation. Theplants were typically watered twice per week. Pots were topdressed witha slow release fertilizer containing 18% nitrogen, 8% phosphorus and 18%potassium. The average air temperature was 24° C.

[0010] Color designations were made according to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart published by The Royal Horticultural Society ofLondon, England.

[0011] Origin: Japan

[0012] Parentage: A vegetative sport from variety ‘Summer Joy Wine Red’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,251)

[0013] Classification:

[0014]Family.—Portulacaceae.

[0015]Genus.—Portulaca.

[0016]Species.—oleracea.

[0017]Commercial.—Portulaca/Purslane ‘Kakegawa CY6’.

[0018] Plant:

[0019]Growth habit.—Prostrate.

[0020]Plant height.—23.0 cm.

[0021]Spread.—85 cm (in a six-inch pot).

[0022]Life cycle.—Perennial.

[0023]Time to produce a rooted cutting.—2 weeks.

[0024]Time to bloom from propagation.—6-8 weeks.

[0025]Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Vegetative cuttings root in 7-10days after sticking into a rooting medium like a peat moss based mix;the cuttings will form roots without the use of overhead mist.

[0026]Flowering season/requirements.—Flowers year round at temperaturesof 24°-35° C.; day neutral light requirements.

[0027]Temperature.—Will not tolerate temperatures below 7° C.

[0028] Stem:

[0029]Color.—Yellowish green (144C).

[0030]Anthocyanin.—RHS 178B (green-red).

[0031]Pubescence.—Glabrous.

[0032]Stem description.—Round, slightly rough with lateral ridges.

[0033]Diameter.—5.0 mm.

[0034]Length of internode.—3.0-3.5 cm.

[0035] Leaf:

[0036]Apex.—Acute.

[0037]Base.—Rounded.

[0038]Arrangement.—Alternate.

[0039]Leaf color.—Upper surface RHS 137C (green); lower surface RHS 138C(green.

[0040]Anthocyanin.—RHS 178B (green-red).

[0041]Margin.—Entire.

[0042]Length (average).—3.0 cm.

[0043]Width (average).—1.5 cm.

[0044]Shape.—Oblong.

[0045]Thickness.—1.0 mm.

[0046]Texture.—Smooth.

[0047]Petiole color.—RHS N144D (yellow-green).

[0048]Petiole length.—2.0 mm.

[0049] Flower:

[0050]Calyx.—2 sepals; 1.0 cm×1.0 cm; free.

[0051]Corolla.—5 petals; free.

[0052]Flower diameter.—4.0-5.0 cm.

[0053]Bud color.—RHS 138B (green).

[0054]Bud shape.—Round and pointed at the top.

[0055]Bud surface.—Shiny.

[0056]Duration of flower life.—One day.

[0057]Flowering habit.—Determinate.

[0058]Placenta arrangement.—Central.

[0059]Inflorescence type.—Solitary, sessile.

[0060]Stamens.—Filament color RHS 61B (red-purple); anther color RHS 24A(orange).

[0061]Stigma.—RHS 61B (red-purple).

[0062]Style.—RHS 61B (red-purple).

[0063]Petal size.—3.0×2.8-3.0 cm (l×w).

[0064]Petal color.—Upper surface RHS 61 B (red-purple) at distal halfand RHS 60A (red-purple) at basal half; lower surface RHS 61C(red-purple) at distal half and RHS 60A (red-purple at basal half; baseof petal upper and lower surface RHS 154A (yellow-green).

[0065]Produces seed.—No.

[0066]Habit.—The flowers bloom during midmorning and close at night.Each flower blooms only once and are produced throughout the growingseason. The plants produce flowers regardless of day length; the plantsare day neutral. Plants can have 40 to 50 open flowers at one time andhave no fragrance.

[0067]Hardiness.—Plant is heat tolerant; thrives in heat and humidity;plant is not cold tolerant or below 7° C.

DISEASE AND INSECT RESISTANCE

[0068] No unusual susceptibility to diseases or insects have beenobserved.

COMPARISON WITH OTHER KNOWN VARIETIES

[0069] ‘Kakegawa CY6’ is most similar to the variety Summer Joy Rose’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,285) in that its petal color is darker red andthe base of the petals and the anther create a yellow eye.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Portulaca as shown anddescribed herein.